The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has said that the economic reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu helped shield Nigeria from a potential fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Naija News reports that Uzodimma made the remark while hosting members of the City Boy Movement at the Government House in Owerri over the weekend. The governor spoke amid rising global fuel prices, which analysts attribute to tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to key global oil supply routes. Fuel prices have surged globally following disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic 30-mile-wide shipping route located between Iran and Oman. The waterway links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the open ocean and is regarded as one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints. Industry estimates suggest that roughly 20 per cent of the world’s total liquid petroleum consumption passes through the strait daily. However, tensions escalated after Israel and the United States launched military operations against Iran, prompting retaliatory actions that reportedly included blocking vessels along the shipping lane. Speaking during the visit, Uzodimma said that despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Nigeria had avoided severe fuel shortages and sharp domestic price increases due to the economic reforms initiated by Tinubu. According to him, the reforms helped stabilise the country’s economy and insulated it from global shocks. “Nigeria was almost at a decaying level when the President assumed office in 2023,” the governor said. “In spite of the speculative tension in the Middle East, occasioned by the crisis in Iran, the prices of fuel would have gone up, but in the African continent, the Nigerian naira remains stable.” Uzodimma noted that while some African currencies experienced volatility against the United States dollar, Nigeria’s exchange rate had remained relatively stable. “The exchange rate of the U.S. Dollar and the South African rand has gone up, but in Nigeria, our exchange rate remains stable at ₦1,240 because we no longer fund subsidies,” he said. The governor also commended the removal of fuel subsidy, saying the policy had helped stabilise the foreign exchange market and allowed the Dangote Refinery to purchase crude oil in naira. He added that the global community had begun to recognise signs of Nigeria’s economic recovery. Uzodimma made the remarks while receiving a delegation of the City Boy Movement led by its patron, Seyi Tinubu, and the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande. The governor described their visit to Imo State as a “homecoming”. He said the initiative represented a “new mentality” aimed at preparing young Nigerians for future leadership roles. Uzodimma also commended members of the movement for their charitable outreach to the sick and vulnerable in hospitals. The governor further highlighted what he described as improved infrastructure and political stability in the South-East region. He urged members of the movement to act as ambassadors of the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda by promoting the achievements of the Tinubu government across communities. Uzodimma assured the delegation of his administration’s full support for the youth movement and its activities.